rutledge



Feb. 21, 1956 R. E. RUTLEDGE 2,735,215

LIVE BAIT BAG Filed Feb. 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I INVENTOR 1 ROBERT EDWAQDPUTLEDGE ATTO R Feb. 21, 1956 R. E. RUTLEDGE 2,735,215

LIVE BAIT BAG Filed Feb. 16, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 'RQBERT EDWRD 'RuTLE D6E ATTO RN EYS United States Patent LIVE BAIT BAG Robert Edward Rutledge, Kalamazoo, Mich.

' Application February 16,1954, Serial N 0. 410,554

1 Claim. (Cl. 43-55) This invention relates to packages for live bait such as fish worms.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a package for live fish worms or other bait which will keep the worms live and fresh for an indefinite period under adverse weather conditions such as high temperatures.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a package which can be made easily andinexpensively from paper, using standard equipment. Another obiect of the invention is to provide such a bag which will stand up during storage for reasonable periods of time and during use by a fisherman when he is actually fishing. Another object of the invention is to provide such a package which can be shipped easily and inexpensively and can be stored in a minimum storage space prior to use. Another object of the invention is to provide an attractive package which can carry on it the name, address, and telephone number of the particular dealer using it, and such other advertising matter as may be desired. Another objective of the invention is to provide such a package which can be thrown away after use. For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the accompanying drawings a form thereof, which is at present preferred since it gives desirable and satisfactory results. It will be understood, however, that the invention may be made in other forms and that the invention is not limited to the specific arrangement and organization herein shown and described.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a paper blank which is used in forming the bag of the invention. Fig. 2 is a broken view partially sectioned to show one step in the assembling of the bag. Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the bag in perspective before sealing. Fig. 4 is a view showing a step in the sealing of the bag. Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the bottom of the bag after sealing. Fig. 6 is a view of the bag prior to filling, and Fig. 7 is a view partially cut away showing the filled bag.

In general, the invention consists of a bag having walls of thin porous, flexible paper of high wet strength. This paper is formed into a bag and is secured in this form with a waterproof adhesive. Enclosed within the bag is a wettable, loose, cushioning packing material into which the worms are mixed for protection against damage. The packing material used is dampened when the worms are placed in the bag. The thin porous walls of the bag, being of high wet strength paper, will not be weakened by the moisture, as would be the case with ordinary paper. However, because of the porosity of the paper, the moisture from within the bag can evaporate and permit the passage of air so that the bait is maintained in a cool, live and fresh condition.

The bag, which is indicated generally at 1 is made of blank 2 which consists of a front panel 3, bellows sides 4 and a separate back panel made of sections 5 and 6 with suitable overlap portions 7 and 8 to receive adhesive for forming the blank into a tube. Portions of the panels 4 and 5 are cut away as indicated at 9 so that at the lower end of the bag, it is possible to apply adhesive 10 both to the outer side of the tube and to the rear side of the face 3 of the bag. The bag is then folded. along: the line 11 as indicated in Fig. 4 and placed into closedv position. as shown in Fig. 5, thus sealing the bottom of the bag securely.

The bag is made of thin, porous, flexible paper of high wet. strength- The high. wet strength cant be imparted to the paper by the use of melamine resins; These are employed ina. manner well known in. the paper making. art so thatit is unnecessary to give a detailed description here of the production of porous high wet strength paper. Other resins and methods may be employed since it is signifi'cant only that the paper he porous to permit evaporation of water from withinthe bag and. to permit the passage of air and that the paper have. the necessary wet strength. to resist the dampening which comes: from. in setting damp packing in the bag or from exposing the finished bag. in. use to. water in the bottom of the boat or to rain if the bag is inadvertently exposed during rain.

Throughout. this. specification, the term paper is used to define thin, flexible, sheet material made from paper, pulp, or the like, as opposed to thicker, stilt products, which. are known: as. paper board. Whenv the term high. wet strength. is used, it is intended to include the welt known products of the paper making art, which are described above and which are of high resistance to tear and disintegration when exposed to water.

Paper having a thickness of .007 inch is highly satis factory. Such paper will weigh about 50 pounds per ream of 24 x 36 inch sheets. It will be understood, however, that thin, flexible, porous paper of different dimensions could be employed in making the bag.

The adhesive used in holding the paper in bag form can be any waterproof adhesive suitable for holding paper. Cellulose acetate adhesive has been found to be satisfactory. The adhesive must be one which can withstand the moisture from within the bag and moisture encountered outside during use or storage of the bag.

Within the bag is a suitable wettable, loose, cushioning packing material 12. The worms 13 are mixed with this packing. When reference is made to such packing, it will be understood that it includes sphagnum moss, peat moss, leaf mold, grass, shredded paper, or old sawdust which has been aged sufiiciently to assure that it will not heat up during use, since such heat will generally be fatal to worms packed in the material. The packing material is adapted to cushion and protect the worms from pressure exerted on the flexible walls of the bag and because of its looseness permits the circulation of moist gases there through.

In use, the bag is fastened by folding the top as indicated at 14 in Fig. 7. The fold is held by suitable clips 15 which may be any suitable paper clips. The bag, of course, may be closed in other ways, if desired.

When the bag is packed, the worms and loose packing material which has been moistened are placed in the bag and the bag is then closed. These bags packed as described above have been thoroughly tested in practical use. Worms packed in them have kept for days under adverse conditions. They have kept fresh and live in the trunk of an automobile for hours in hot sun. The bags have also been tested in use in boats where they encountered water which had leaked or seeped into the boat without disintegration of the bags. They have also been tested when exposed to rain without any damage to the bait packed within them.

In use, the bags or packing should be kept moist, however, if the packed bag is left in water, the water will seep in and kill the bait.

If desired, advertising or the name and address of the bait dealer may be easily printed on the bag.

The bags may be made and shipped in the flat and may 3 be stored in this way. Thus, it brings about considerable saving in shipping and storage costs.

The bags can be made on standard bag making machines with high wet strength paper which is obtainable in the open market and with waterproof adhesive which is likewise thus obtainable.

The bag is so inexpensive that it can be discarded when the user is through with it.

The bag shown as illustrative of this invention is known as a square bottom bag. It will be appreciated that other forms of bag could be used with equal facility and that the square bottom bag is shownmerely as illustrative. Any bag which can be made on automatic machinery will be adequate.

It will be understood that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. It is therefore de sired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claim rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

I claim:

A package suitable for shipping and preserving live fishworms, comprising the combination of a bag having walls of thin, porous, flexible, high wet strength paper, adapted to retain its strength when moist and to permit the passage of gas to facilitate cooling through evaporation of water from the contents thereof, said paper being secured in bag form by means of waterproof adhesive, said bag being substantially filled with wettable, loose, cushioning packing material, said bag having a readily available access opening for inserting and removing worms,

and said packing material being adapted to cushion and protect worms in said material in said bag from pressure exerted on the walls of the filled bag and because of its looseness permitting the circulation of gases therethrough whereby moisture used to dampen said packing material may evaporate to cool the contents of the bag and may pass through said material and the porous walls of said bag when it is closed, to facilitate cooling by evaporation.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 886,337 Balkan May 5, 1908 1,899,286 Meagher Feb. 28, 1933 2,220,874 Waters Nov. 5, 1940 2,253,688 Collins Aug. 26, 1941 2,364,903 Howard Dec. 12, 1944 2,503,267 Harrison Apr. 11, 1950 2,559,220 Maxwell July 3, 1951 2,573,202 Kent Oct. 30, 1951 2,586,078 OMalley Feb. 19, 1952 2,639,538 Gemmer May 26, 1953 

